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Low dyno numbers?!?!

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Old Apr 5, 2014 | 08:18 PM
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Default Low dyno numbers?!?!

I have an ls3 in my c5 corvette with about 2500miles now, I went to the dyno today for the first time and got an extremely low number of 408hp/398 tq wheel?!? Why?!?! Mods are:
Heads ported and milled 30
Comp cam custom grind
Dual valve springs, tsp pushrods, titanium retainers etc.
94mm throttle body with halltech cai, full 3" exhaust (catless long tubes/off road x/mufflers)
160 thermostat
Msd plug wires, catch can, tr6 plugs, tuned by cj tunes in mn
Afr was 11.9 through the whole pull

Am I wrong for expecting more out of a h/c/I/e/tune and Bolt on ls3?? Dyno was outside on a 43 degree day

Last edited by Ls3 adventures; Apr 5, 2014 at 08:25 PM.
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Old Apr 5, 2014 | 08:46 PM
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I dunno??

Butt...with the typical 15% power loss between the back of the engine to the wheels (for a manual transmission; auto may even be more than that), 408 rwhp equals about 480 hp at the flywheel.

What's the LS3 stock? I think 430 hp.

So....you've got a 50 hp gain over stock - not bad!!

Bob
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Old Apr 5, 2014 | 08:51 PM
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What heads? Are they stock and ported?
What Cam are you running?
Intake Manifold?
Auto/Manual?

There are so many variables to figure out your issue or it could be just mismatched components i.e camshaft to big for what you have etc...
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Old Apr 5, 2014 | 09:12 PM
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Originally Posted by 96mogt
What heads? Are they stock and ported?
What Cam are you running?
Intake Manifold?
Auto/Manual?

There are so many variables to figure out your issue or it could be just mismatched components i.e camshaft to big for what you have etc...
They are stock ls3 heads ported, polished, and milled 30thousandths and I'm trying to contact the previous owner to find the cam specs all I know is that it's a custom grind comp cam, stock intake manifold, and it's a manual transmission car
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Old Apr 5, 2014 | 09:17 PM
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I am just so confused because there are bone stock ls3s out there with 408 wheel and my ls3 has heads/cam/intake/tune/exhaust/Bolton, and has the same power numbers?
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Old Apr 5, 2014 | 09:21 PM
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The correct combination would get you much more.

What type of dyno did you use?
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Old Apr 5, 2014 | 09:29 PM
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Originally Posted by MARSC6
The correct combination would get you much more.

What type of dyno did you use?
It was a dyno dynamics
dynotech dyno
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Old Apr 5, 2014 | 09:37 PM
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Then I would definitely expect better results. Something is not getting along.
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Old Apr 5, 2014 | 09:40 PM
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Perhaps DYNO opperator error?? I know if its not set up correctly you can have those spit out all sorts of numbers.

SPEED SAFE, AIR RAM
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Old Apr 5, 2014 | 09:41 PM
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Originally Posted by Ls3 adventures
They are stock ls3 heads ported, polished, and milled 30thousandths and I'm trying to contact the previous owner to find the cam specs all I know is that it's a custom grind comp cam, stock intake manifold, and it's a manual transmission car
I would get the info from the original owner like you stated. Get some facts and evidence of the work that was supposedly done to the car. I agree, very low numbers and something isn't adding up. Jay
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Old Apr 6, 2014 | 01:40 AM
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Okay I got the cam specs:
Comp cam 237/239 .619/.623 113 lsa
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Old Apr 6, 2014 | 08:48 AM
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That is a pretty healthy cam any pics of the dyno sheet?
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Old Apr 6, 2014 | 09:41 AM
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I'd guess you're about 50 rwhp shy.
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Old Apr 6, 2014 | 10:36 AM
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You're a good 100 hp shy of where you should be on your average Dynojet. Healthy cam with boltons on an LS3 will typically see upper 400s with a few touching 500. Your cam is plenty healthy. With ported heads, 500+. Ask the dyno operator where his machine stacks up with other dynos in the area. If he's been there a while, I can guarantee you that he knows. If his doesn't read absurdly low, you have more work to do.

Simple question, How is it running? If it's really down a hundred hp, it's probably running like ****.

Last edited by old motorhead; Apr 6, 2014 at 10:39 AM.
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Old Apr 6, 2014 | 12:04 PM
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The cam seems quite aggressive and with 30 milled from the heads ill think the valves clearance is tight. Are the pistons notched? The afr can be leaned out some to about 12.2. What's the timing? These engine work well with 23-24* at wot.

At the end they're just numbers. Take it to the track and see how it performs. Specially the mph at the stripe.
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Old Apr 6, 2014 | 02:50 PM
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Originally Posted by old motorhead
You're a good 100 hp shy of where you should be on your average Dynojet. Healthy cam with boltons on an LS3 will typically see upper 400s with a few touching 500. Your cam is plenty healthy. With ported heads, 500+. Ask the dyno operator where his machine stacks up with other dynos in the area. If he's been there a while, I can guarantee you that he knows. If his doesn't read absurdly low, you have more work to do.

Simple question, How is it running? If it's really down a hundred hp, it's probably running like ****.
It's been running awesome in my opinion, the only thing is the surging below 1500 rpm but I'm guessing that's normal with a cam?
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Old Apr 6, 2014 | 02:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Pitufina
At the end they're just numbers. Take it to the track and see how it performs. Specially the mph at the stripe.
The ultimate test of power is at the track. It's also a test of skill to put that power to use.
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To Low dyno numbers?!?!

Old Apr 6, 2014 | 02:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Pitufina
The cam seems quite aggressive and with 30 milled from the heads ill think the valves clearance is tight. Are the pistons notched? The afr can be leaned out some to about 12.2. What's the timing? These engine work well with 23-24* at wot.

At the end they're just numbers. Take it to the track and see how it performs. Specially the mph at the stripe.
Yes we bought pistons with a larger valve relief as instructed by the performance shop, the operator did not hook up a single sensor to the car he merely drove it on the dyno did 4 pulls in a row and drove off so I can't tell you timing, the only reason I know the Afr is through the wideband I had previously installed. The engine temp held 178 through each pull
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Old Apr 6, 2014 | 03:14 PM
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Old Apr 6, 2014 | 03:21 PM
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